Prayers of the BibleSample

When was the last time you repented on behalf of someone else?

In the book of Job, we read how Job’s children would host feasts and parties where they ate and drank together. Afterward, Job would then rise early in the morning and offer a burnt offering, saying, “It may be that my children have sinned and cursed God in their hearts” (Job 1:5).

This act of intercession is echoed throughout Scripture. When Stephen was being stoned, he prayed, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them” (Acts 7:60). And at the cross, Jesus prayed, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing” (Luke 23:34).

In today’s reading, Nehemiah confesses the sins of God’s people. He repents on their behalf, recognizing their rebellion and pleading for God’s mercy. When you understand God’s holiness and the weight of sin, it moves you not only to repent for your own sin but also to intercede for others, knowing that God’s grace and mercy are their only hope.

Like Job, Stephen, Jesus, and Nehemiah, we are called to stand in the gap for those we love and even for those who oppose us.

Today, ponder this:

Who in your life needs you to intercede for them? Will you stand in the gap and pray for them to encounter God’s mercy and grace?